Variegated Illicium

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct form of  Illicium  plant, characterized by its pink flowers are variegated leaves.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/156,357, filed May 28, 2002, which is hereby incorporated herein inits entirety by reference.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Illicium floridanum J. Ellis forma variegatum Gaddy is a pink-flowered,variegated-leaved form of Illicium floridanum (star-anise, Floridaanise).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct form of Illiciumfloridanum, referred to commercially as a Variegated Illicium.

This invention has produced a new variegated-leaved form of Illiciumfloridanum forma variegatum. It was propagated by shoot from Illiciumfloridanum forma albiflorum ‘Semmes,’ a white-flowerednonvariegated-leaved form of Illicium floridanum. Illicium floridanum J.Ellis forma variegatum Gaddy is an Illicium having variegated leaves anda light pink flower from the form of Illicium floridanum (star-anise,Florida anise).

Table 1 gives data on various taxonomic characters of the new form andtypical floridanum. Characters seen in young plants of Illiciumfloridanum forma variegatum not mentioned in the description of typicalIllicium floridanum (Vincent in Flora of North America, 1997) includeasymmetrical leaves, curved leaf tips (apices), pink flower color, andleaf variegation. Differt a Illicium floridanum J. Ellis foliisvariegatis et floribus roseus. (Differs from Illicium floridanum J.Ellis by its variegated leaves and by its pink flowers.). Incontainer-grown plants less than 0.5 meter tall, leaves weresignificantly smaller than those of typical Illicium floridanum;however, this difference may be due to the fact that these plants areyoung shoots. It was propagated by shoot from Illicium floridanum‘Alba’, variety ‘Semmes,’ a white-flowered nonvariegated-leaved form ofIllicium floridanum.

This invention has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length,without, however, any variation in genotype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This new variety is endowed with a unique combination of traits whichare determined to be the basic characteristics of this invention whichin combination distinguish it as new and distinct, and materiallycontributes to its attractiveness. Among its important and dominantcharacteristics are the following: (1) the leaves of the new variety arevariegated having a gray-green color at the exterior edges of the leafand ranging from to a yellow-green to yellow at the interior of theleaf; and (2) the flowers of the new variety are light pink with theinner petals fading to a softer pink.

This invention is best compared to wild floridanum. A comparison for theleaf and flower characteristics is shown in Table 1 wherein it can beseen that the leaves both as to size and shape are distinct. Also, theflower color is distinct from the wild floridanum. The plant was 5 yearsold when spontaneous mutation was found. That mutation is now 12 yearsold.

The flower color and leaf variegation of forma variegatum has remainedstable in offshoots from the original variegated-leaved plant shows thatthe foregoing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding propagation. The plant's winter hardinessis USDA zone 6 and the drought/heat tolerance is USDA zone 10.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show specimens of the new variety, withtheir foliage and flowers in different stages of development.

FIG. 1 is a close-up photograph illustrating the variegated leaves ofthe new plant;

FIG. 2 is a photograph illustrating a cluster of buds of a typicalplant;

FIG. 3 is a photograph which illustrates a single flower of the newplant; and

FIG. 4 is a photograph showing the plant.

The photographs of the drawing were taken Apr. 28, 1999 in Semmes, Ala.and illustrate the typical foliage form, with color as true as possiblein this type of color photograph.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe plants ofthe new cultivar grown in Moncks Corner, S.C. in August, 1998. Colorreferences are made in accordance with The Royal Horticultural ColourChart of the British Color Council, except where general color terms ofordinary dictionary significance are obvious.

-   Origin: Dodd & Dodd Nursery Post Office Drawer 439 Semmes, Ala.    136575    -   -   Botanical classification.—Illicium floridanum.        -   Parentage.—Branch sport of Illicium floridanum ‘Alba’,            variety ‘Semmes’.        -   Commercial class.—Ornamental; broad-leaf evergreen.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cuttings.—This plant has been asexually reproduced by            means of semi-hardwood cuttings. All rooted cuttings have            remained true to the new variety.        -   Time to initiate root development.—about 4 to 5 months.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Upright rounded shrub. Multi-trunked.        -   Height.—6 feet to 8 feet. Slightly shorter than the average            for the species.        -   Trunk diameter.—original plant. — 3 inch diameter trunk.        -   Tree diameter.—2 foot diameter spread.        -   Bark color.—Brownish gray (RHS 199A), younger limbs dotted            with varying numbers of small lenticels of color (RHS 199C);            older limbs are without lenticels.        -   Internodes length.—about 2 to 3 inches.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Evergreen. Leaves mostly elliptic to lanceolate in            shape. Apex acute to acuminate with leaf base cuneate.        -   Arrangement.—Alternate. In pseudo-whorls at end of stem.        -   Leaf size.—about 6.5-11 cm. long and 1.3-2.5 cm. wide.        -   Leaf shape.—often asymmetrical. Entire.        -   Texture.—leathery.        -   Aspect.—Smooth. Aromatic anise-like odor.        -   Color.—variegated with the primary green of the leaves being            a grey-green — Royal Horticultural Society 189A; variegated            colors range from grey-green (RHS 188B) to yellow-green (RHS            144B) to yellow (RHS 3D), often with an admixture of the            latter three colors.        -   Vein color.—Color RHS 190A.        -   Venation pattern.—Midrib evident but lateral veins not            evident.        -   Abaxial surface color of the observed leaf.—Color RHS 189C.        -   Leaf petiole.—the length is about 1 to 2 cm.; the width is            about 0.5 cm. and the color is RHS 191D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Locality where grown.—Moncks Corner, S.C.        -   Blooming habit.—Has started to flower as early as late            February in Moncks Corner and continued until mid-April.            Peak times have been April 1^(st), with a tendency to repeat            in summer and fall.        -   Continuity.—Continuous.        -   Borne.—Singly on a ½″-1½″ pedicel.        -   Shape.—Round, 1″-1½″ in diameter.        -   Fragrance.—Reminiscent of a wet dog or fish.-   Sepels:    -   -   Number of sepals.—6.        -   Size of sepals.—1 cm. long, ¼ cm. wide.        -   Color.—RHS66C.        -   Flower.—20-30 strap-shaped petals, soft pink, ligulate.            Pollinated by a variety of insects.        -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Texture.—Thick, leathery.        -   Aspect.—Waxy.        -   Size.—1″-1½″ in diameter.        -   Color.—Light pink (RHS66D) fading to softer pink (RHS69C).        -   Pedicels.—the diameter is 0.2 cm. and the color is RHS 149A.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—The bud is 1 cm. In length and ½ cm. in diameter.        -   Shape.—Globular with pointed tips. Rose-pink (RHS 60D).        -   Color.—Rose-pink (RHS 60D).        -   Quantity of Bloom.—Abundant; outdoors.        -   Peduncle.—Length about ½″-1½″.-   Reproduction:    -   -   Stamens.—Number. — 25-50.        -   Pistil.—Number — 11 -21.        -   Seed/Fruit.—One seeded, dehiscent follicles, 11-15 arranged            in a whorl, ¾″-1″ diameter, The seed capsule is first green            (RHS 144C), then yellow (RHS 150A), and finally brown (RHS            199B), maturing in November. Has a star-like configuration,            distinct, seeds BB-like, brown and shiney.

Resistance to disease/susceptibility.—Resistance to disease has not beenobserved. The plant does not like full sun in the Southeastern U.S.TABLE 1 Illicium floridanum forma variegatum and its relationship towild floridanum.¹ Illicium floridanum Wild floridanum forma variegatumLEAF LENGTH  5-21 cm  6.5-11 cm LEAF WIDTH 1.5-6 cm 1.3-2.5 cm LEAFSHAPE Elliptic to lanceolate Often asymmetrical LEAF BASE CuneateNarrowly cuneate LEAF APEX Acute to acuminate Often curved LEAFTHICKNESS Thin to leathery Leathery LEAF COLOR Olive Variegated FLOWERCOLOR Maroon Pink¹Measurements for typical wild I. floridanum taken from Michael A.Vincent's treatment of Illicium, Pp. 59-61 In Flora of North America.1997. Magnoliophyta: Magnoliidae and Hamemelidae. Volume 3. OxfordUniversity Press. New York, Oxford. 590 p.

1. A new and distinct Illicium plant as herein described andillustrated.